Need help - pictures of specific lock I'm trying to pick

[dominogold]

I need help picking this lock. Does anyone know what type of lock this is and what technique or tools I should try? I'm looking for the cheapest and fastest way to do this. This is for nothing illegal, rest assured.

[Varjeal]

Forensics would have a blast with this...appears to be a Titan lock upon which several attempts at bypassing have been made....I'm going to think on this one some more.

Would anyone in the class care to point out the evidence of the several attempts? Remember, I'm grading the answers. *dons professor's hat if such a thing ever existed*

[dominogold]

This lock is on my house that is under construction. I have $50,000 into the house and the general contractor locks me out and won't give me a key until closing, but then says I can go in any time I want (it also says that in the contract that I'm allowed in at my own risk at any time).

I need to get in this house to check up on things. Otherwise, closing will come soon and I'll be screwed if I don't catch stuff daily by going out there. I think he has used this lock on other homes that were under construction before, but I haven't tried picking it yet until I know what it is and what to buy to pick it.

Thanks

[Chucklz]

I see a dent in the handle, marks on the door suggesting that the lock has been hit hard enough to move it down a few mm. A chip on the door that suggests an attempt at slipping the latch.

Varjeal, yes such a thing exists, Check out academic regalia, use your google-fu.

[dominogold]

Is there a particular method and/or tool that works better on Titans?

[MrB]

It looks to me like it has a Kwikset KW5 keyway. It doesn't seem like the kind of lock that is going to be terribly hard to pick open. I think any of the regular picking methods should work on it.

It seems to me that such key-in-knob locks are not really intended to keep bad people out at all. One blow with a sledgehammer and the knob is going to come clean off, leaving you to simply unlatch the door with a screwdriver.

All that said, I don't think surreptitious entry is going to endear you to the contractor very much. Much better to push for regular inspection opportunities. When they are working on the house the door is going to be wide open anyway. I suspect they just don't people under their feet while they are working, and they are also probably bothered about safety and liability issues.

[skold]

it's similar to the titan i found out in the shed last year, i found it easy to pick.

[Varjeal]

In reference to actually picking this lock, any standard hook pick and a medium twist-flex tension wrench should be enough to do the job you want. (clock-wise) if I recall correctly.

As mentioned by others though, I'd simply demand either THE key or a spare to be able to check it when you wish. After all, its YOUR house, not theirs, and therefore your responsibility to look after your own safety while in it.

[skold]

mine opened anti clockwise

[Buggs41]

Hard hat, and safety glasses.

Let's be safe out there.

[dominogold]

Thank you all for the suggestions.

I'm not sure if it opens clockwise or counter-clockwise. I think it is counter-clockwise but I'm not sure....

I've only tried picking a lock a couple times with a paperclip (not this one). I think I was successful once out of many tries and it was luck. So I'm looking for the fastest, cheapest way to learn how to pick this baby. I'm rapidly scanning this forum and other websites!

They will not give me a key. I think they're concerned that if they give out keys to all their homeowners then they recycle these locks and move it to the next house when it is under construction, then everyone has a key to every house. Who knows, but it pisses me off to get locked out of my own house. Otherwise I have to take time off work to stop out at the house rather than go after work. Almost every time I've stopped in I've found something they will fix.

[Chucklz]

Sounds to me like its time to get a lawyer and building inspector involved.

[thertel]

Where are you located? I know in many states they are legally required to allow you into YOUR property any time you want to, which does require them to either show up when you want in or to give you a key. Now if your Builders Agreement provides you with unfettered access to the job site I'd give the contractor a call at about 8pm in the evening telling him you want to inspect the work being done. Also you'll probably notice in your contract that arbitration is to be used to resolve disputes, and you may want to persue that avenue. Now you can also call the parent company of your contractors (assuming they aren't independent contractors) such as Century21 or what not, and explain the situation because they don't want you bad mouthing their practice or making them go back in later to fix it after all the dry walling and painting and what not are done. It is pretty standard to have between a 90 and 180 warranty on new homes for poor worksmanship and on certain things, like electrical, you can sue for years into the future.

Thomas

[dominogold]

Where are you located? I know in many states they are legally required to allow you into YOUR property any time you want to, which does require them to either show up when you want in or to give you a key. Now if your Builders Agreement provides you with unfettered access to the job site I'd give the contractor a call at about 8pm in the evening telling him you want to inspect the work being done. Also you'll probably notice in your contract that arbitration is to be used to resolve disputes, and you may want to persue that avenue. Now you can also call the parent company of your contractors (assuming they aren't independent contractors) such as Century21 or what not, and explain the situation because they don't want you bad mouthing their practice or making them go back in later to fix it after all the dry walling and painting and what not are done. It is pretty standard to have between a 90 and 180 warranty on new homes for poor worksmanship and on certain things, like electrical, you can sue for years into the future.

I am in Michigan.

Not a bad idea, but I'm trying to keep a somewhat good relationship with the builder, if that's possible. I've already had to call the city on them twice and the city came through for me once and threated to shut them down if they didn't give me the requested items I wanted.

For example, we signed an electrical contract that shows a 3-way switch in the kitchen. We don't even have a switch in the kitchen, period, it is a single pole instead and the switch is clear out in the hallway. We are supposed to have a switch upon entering the kitchen and in the entryway into the dining room. We are missing 7 outlets that are on the electrical map. It's ridiculous and thanks only to the city, they are correcting it. But if I hadn't snuck in to find these items, none of it would have happened.

Now they are locking the house up daily so I can't get in and "find anything wrong" anymore. I have to learn how to pick this lock and they will not give me a key. The contract says basically I'm allowed on the site and to enter the home but does not say anything about having access at any time I want.

Arbitration is not the way to go. It benefits the builder tremendously ... there are several articles on the internet about arbitration being a waste of time and money for people building new homes.

So what would you recommend and which technique should I try to pick this lock. Would you recommend purchasing a kwikset practice lock?

[hung82000]

I can assure you that forcing entry by means of picking or any other unauthorized means will most certainly not help keep a good relationship with the builder. I would talk to him, mention that you know he is required to give you access, and tell him that you wouldn't want to get your lawyer involved. If nothing else, as others have mentioned, the door will be unlocked while they are working on it. That would be the best time to inspect work anyway, IMHO.